this page updated 22 March 2009

"This album, ostensibly Mark's "comeback" after a few years away from the scene, contains some tremendously scintillating (acoustic) guitar playing and some pretty decent singing, and has classy, state-of-the-art production values. It will probably not reach the audiences it deserves, however, which would be a shame; let's hope that this review whets your appetite sufficiently to want to investigate, then. Lest you be wondering already: yes, Mark's the brother of that indecently talented instrumentalist Chris Newman (long-term touring partner of amazing harpist Máire Ní Chathasaigh), so serious guitar skills are obviously in the genes, but there's also an equally high level of musicality at work in every note Mark plays. His solo work displays a truly breathtaking technique, sure, but that's not the whole story, for it's paying the highest tribute to Mark that you're actually drawn in to his playing at the level of satisfying listening too. The tunes are predominantly traditional in origin, but without exception they're tackled with acute sensitivity and imagination (for a sample, just marvel at what Mark does with the hoary old Maire's Wedding – track 12 – followed by a Clumsy Lover that sounds anything but!), Mark also providing illuminating and informative notes on both the sources and his own approach and playing methods. Stories sensibly alternates songs with instrumentals, so that neither category suffers by comparison. Mark's renditions of the songs are styled very much in the laid-back bluesy, country-bluesy Wizz Jones mould, with typically understated delivery, and the material ranges from Norman Blake and Happy Traum to John Sebastian (hence the album's title), topped up with one of Mark's own (late 60s) compositions. Brother Chris (who also produced and arranged the album, incidentally) helps out on most of the vocal tracks with guitar, bass or octave mandolin as required, but, ever mindful that the album is after all Mark's showcase, leaves Mark to his own devices on the instrumentals, where he just occasionally (though to good effect) indulges in some considerate double-tracking (though Mark's creative version of John D. Loudermilk's Windy And Warm achieves an intriguingly mellifluous twelve-string sound out of two of his own guitars!). The only small reservation I have about the album is that there seems to be a touch too much reverb at times, noticeably on Mark's vocals – but that's a minor quibble when set against the abundance of really excellent musicianship here."

David Kidman

"Astoundingly good guitarist...choice of songs fits his voice beautifully...brilliant!"

"...the playing is immaculate"

"Mark's guitar technique is superb...I can recommend his latest CD, which includes some beuatiful renditions of traditional tunes."